New appointments at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity

Media diversity champion Marcus Ryder MBE has secured a new role at Birmingham City University to examine representation across the UK’s media. Mr Ryder has been named as Head of External Consultancies, at the University’s Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, which was set up to look into diversity across the industry including journalism, acting, film, TV and radio in both front-of-house and behind the scenes roles.

The new role will see the award-winner work alongside academics and industry leaders to explore how the UK’s media reflects its population and to champion better representation across all sectors.

Mr Ryder has spent over 25 years working in the media and has led major campaigns challenging government and industry to increase representation in the media. He has championed the need for greater visibility and opportunities for women, ethnic minorities and disabled people working in the film and television industry and has given evidence to the House of Lords on how to increase diversity in broadcast media. Mr Ryder will officially take up his role on Monday 10 May and will work with University academics and industry leaders to drive the case for increased diversity in the media.

The news bolsters the work of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, which was officially launched in March last year (2020).

New Board Member for the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity

A leading industry figure and diversity champion has been named as the latest board member of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. Angela Chan, who has spent more than 20 years in the UK television sector as a documentary maker, commissioner and industry champion, has been unveiled as a key member of the Centre’s Advisory Board.

Angela Chan’s career has seen her work as an executive producer, documentary director, commissioner and industry champion, responsible for delivering the BBC’s diversity and Nations & Regions strategies in commissioning. Most recently she served as Head of Creative Diversity at Channel 4 where she led the broadcaster’s inclusion strategy on and off screen. She specialises in unlocking the potential of small creative businesses from under-represented groups.

Angela is also a consultant, lecturer and doctoral researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London, specialising in inclusive innovation and creative industries policy, making her insights and expertise invaluable to the work of the Centre.

Since launching in March last year the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity has published studies including research into diversity within UK broadcast regulator OFCOM.